- ‘Prokaryotes’ are not a monopheyltic group
- Kingdoms Bacteria & Archaea; each with unique traits
- most species diverse groups on Earth
- Diversity of ways of making a living
- sources of energy to make ATP
- heterotrophs
- autotrophs (photosynthesis)
- Co-evolution with the planet and other organisms
- oxygen poor to oxygen rich world
- extremeophiles (temperature, pH, salt,etc.)
- prokaryotes are most abundant organisms on Earth!